Gary groaned to himself as he leaned back in his chair, observing the darkening sky from the window of his room as the stars began to come out.
Studying wasn't fun, and he found this to be true even if he was good at the subject. The only bad thing about being at the top of your class was how much work it took to get there. It wasn't the fun kind of work that came from being a Pokemon trainer. Right now, he and the class were still stuck on the academic phase that sucked the enjoyment out of everything.
What's more, this would be the last quiz they took as a class before focus shifted to the Qualification Exam. Which meant more studying. The research itself wouldn't be a problem. In and of itself, he had as much fun reading up on his dream profession as he imagined he would actually practicing it.
But when it culminated in essays, tests, and the occasional presentation rather than the pulse-pounding excitement of a Gym battle, it was much more demoralizing. Those thrills would be the perfect reward for enduring this for so long. If he hadn't been so passionate, looking forward to his first Season as much as he was, he imagined his grades would never be this high. Right now, all of his effort was poured into his hopes and desires for the future. Knowing that this slavish work at his desk would eventually culminate in him holding his first Poke Ball, and later Gym badge, and surely the moment where he became the first rookie in history to reach the six-on-six rounds of the Conference.
Who knows where his upcoming career would take him? Surely Lance's days were numbered with the Oak boy soon to be on the scene, for as much as the young prodigy respected and acknowledged the Champion for all of his greatness. Or perhaps he could work to surpass even his own grandfather and Professor Rowan in the research field? Those were easily the two most appealing paths to him, not that they were all he could imagine. As long as it had something to do with Pokemon, how could he fail? It didn't matter what he shot for: A Championship title, the top of the research field, the top of the breeder charts? Hell, even if he completely changed course to become a Top Coordinator on a whim.
Whatever the aim, if anyone could achieve it, it was Gary Oak.
And when he finally did reach that goal, it would have been earned. Long before he ever picked up the Pokedex for the first time. Dating all the way back to his first A plus on a test. Soon, all that would be left standing between him and the beginning of his future was the Qualification Exam, and he would conquer it the same way he would conquer the Indigo Plateau: With a level of perfection that only the Oak family was capable of. He could feel his grandfather's blood surging through his veins just thinking about it, as though it were giving him strength in the face of adversity.
With the finish line in sight, he would push forward for just a little bit longer. And then finally, at long last, his future would be laid out in front of him. Just waiting to be snatched.
/
Ash and his team left Saffron the following morning, sights set on Vermilion just to the south. It was going to be a few days before arrival, as Ash had chosen not to use his bicycle to give himself and his team more time to train and battle.
Thankfully, the road between Saffron and Vermilion had proven as straightforward as the road between Mt. Moon and Cerulean, which made for smooth travel on foot. In addition to battling other trainers, this also gave the team the opportunity to work on their movesets.
While at Saffron's Poke Mart, Ash had purchased four different TMs: Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Hyper Voice, and Fire Fang. Although the collective price was steep, the extensive winning streak that he and his team had held onto after leaving Cerulean had given him plenty of budget, and the fact that the road ahead wasn't too long made the need for supplies a bit less demanding.
Pikachu had been given the Thunder Punch TM, which had been a fairly safe and easy addition to the rodent's moveset. Although Zap Tail and Static Tail had already provided the mouse with close-range electric type options, this move was a much simpler technique to pull off, while still being fairly useful. At this point, Ash found that learning electric type moves was mostly a breeze for his active Starter, who's usage of Thunderbolt (which hadn't been fully mastered to maximum power, but was now at a stage where the move would grow stronger alongside Pikachu himself) and Electro Ball, as well as the development of Zap Tail and Static Tail, had left him incredibly proficient with electricity. The fact that the basic knowledge of Thunder Punch had been provided for Pikachu by the TM itself only served to help further that along. He still didn't have the move mastered right away, but was able to use it with great effectiveness shortly after the TM was distributed to him. Just one practice round had been enough for Ash (and Pikachu) to be satisfied.
At this point, Ash was confident that any further honing that Thunder Punch needed could be done through battling, meaning that training sessions could focus on developing other moves (although he reminded Pikachu to at least warm up with some of his electric attacks at the beginning of each session just to stay on top of them). Volt Tackle was a move that they could practice on occasion, but at the current level that Pikachu was at, the move was a last resort at best, as the battle with A.J. had explicitly proven. Ash's main objectives for Pikachu at the moment were the moves Agility and Slam, neither of which would be extensively difficult given what the young mouse currently already knew.
Agility was another speed based move, and although its psychic properties made it a more complex affair than Quick Attack, Pikachu's frequent usage of Quick Attack had given him a good amount of pre-existing experience to get started with the move. Ash had Valiant give Pikachu some brief coaching to help assist the young mouse. Currently, Pikachu would not have the move mastered for a while, but was able to use it with adequate effectiveness. He didn't have the same head start as Thunder Punch, nor could he use it as freely as Quick Attack (Agility was currently a lot more taxing on him, particularly from a mental standpoint), but it would make for a decent trump card when backed into a corner, and would become more natural with practice. For the moment, it was only a matter of getting the psychic aspects of the ability down, and since Double Team was the closest Pikachu had to having experience with such a thing, more tutelage from Valiant would likely be needed in the future.
Slam, on the other hand, had been a far more easy move to properly get down, and Ash expected it to be a decent addition to Pikachu's offensive arsenal. In the near future, he would also be having Pikachu practice Electroweb. Ritchie's usage of the move had intrigued Ash, and he was confident that Pikachu could get a basic understanding of the move without a TM, thanks to his impressive skills and track record with controlling electricity.
With his starter's training currently planned out for the near future, Ash also had plans for Nebula. Although she hadn't received a TM, she was currently working on U-Turn and Air Cutter. U-Turn would provide her with additionally advantageous maneuverability, while Air Cutter (which would take longer) would be a welcome addition to her ranged arsenal, which currently only consisted of Whirlwind and Wind Blast.
Valiant had also been given the Thunder Punch TM, which Ash felt was a much needed addition to his pre-existing movepool. At the moment, the Kirlia had no attacks that would be viable for close-ranged combat if he was ever forced into an up-close-and-personal affair, which the young rookie intended to fix. Although Valiant didn't have the benefit of being an electric type pokemon who could naturally learn electric type moves more easily than most others, nor did he already have a varied arsenal of electricity-based moves to give him a good amount of pre-existing experience (both of which were qualities that Pikachu had going for him), his overall effective usage of Thunderbolt had at least given him some experience to work with, and Ash found that he was picking up the move at a satisfying rate, even if Pikachu was inevitably outpacing him. In addition, Valiant had also been given the Fire Punch TM, but Ash planned to focus on that later, simply having Valiant practice the move on occasion.
Sooner rather than later, he was hoping that Valiant could also start working on the move Psychic, a powerful ranged technique that would be a boon for his offensive arsenal, but first, he wanted to ensure that Valiant had the experience necessary. To accomplish two things at once, he was also having Valiant begin to work on fine-tuning his usage of Light Screen and Reflect. Rather than dividing up the energy that was placed into each technique by manifesting them in the form of cubes, Ash was currently having Valiant work on forming them into a single wall. It wouldn't provide him with protection from every direction, but it would prove far sturdier, and the goal was for the Kirlia to be able to freely switch between both styles depending on whatever the current situation called for. It was a work in progress, as he wasn't yet able to pull off the more focused variants of Light Screen and Reflect without putting additional strain on himself, but Ash was satisfied with the Kirlia's current improvement. The Emotion Pokemon's constant usage of both techniques had at least given him a fairly great head start, with the main issue being the need to get used to the additional strain, and Ash had faith in his psychic partner in that department. Valiant had long since proven his resilience.
Valiant's mobility was also being subject to training, with Ash hoping for the young Kirlia to become more agile as a complement to his new close-ranged moves. Eevee had been more than happy to volunteer in this department, racing her psychic friend each day. Although, with all the times that she had been outrun by Pikachu, Valiant seemed convinced that she was just as happy to be the faster one for once, as she was to help him out.
Speaking of Eevee, Ash had offered her the Hyper Voice TM, which she had happily accepted. Much like Roar, it was a move that involved the user creating powerful shockwaves with their vocal cords, although Hyper Voice was a more difficult, offensively focused move compared to Roar's more disruptive properties. Nevertheless, the similarities between the two moves made Tyrunt and the Evolution Pokemon perfect training partners for one another, with Ash occasionally having the hatchling (who would soon no longer be a hatchling) participate in Eevee's training.
It was also Ash's hope that the shared training would give Eevee and Tyrunt a chance to bond further. Given how close the two of them were to Valiant, the young rookie felt that it would be beneficial to give the two them more team building activities together, which the training with Iron Tail and Dragon Tail would also prove helpful with. Thankfully, Tyrunt's newfound focus on training seemed to have made Eevee progressively view him less as the annoyingly hyperactive baby that she had seen him as in the beginning, although that could partially be because Tyrunt's participation in each training session had left him more tired out than usual, with less energy left to play around by the end of the day.
Just the previous night, Ash had (silently) caught sight of Eevee licking a small patch of dirt off of Tyrunt's face, a sight that had forced him to hide his immense grin.
Tyrunt had been given the Fire Fang TM, which provided the hatchling with yet another biting based move, along with some additional elemental capabilities. For the moment, the fiery attribute of the technique had not been fully mastered, but the basic knowledge offered by the TM had at least given Tyrunt something to work with, the infant now capable of partially covering his jaws with flames, and his Strong jaw ability, as usual, ensured that the brute force of the technique would be nothing to be trifled with. The Brick Break TM, that Ash had purchased all the way back on the second day of the Season had also been given to Tyrunt, but with the hatchling being significantly less experienced than everybody else, Ash didn't want to put too much focus on more than one move just yet. For the most part, he was setting things up for later, and planned on having Pikachu help teach Tyrunt the technique when the time came.
Tempest still had Scald to work on, and Ash was also having the River Crab Pokemon practice Razor Shell and Night Slash, both of which he had already picked up on prior to being caught. As expected of a Pokemon of Tempest's behavior and interests, the Krabby was incredibly devoted to training, although with the rest of the team still being openly uncomfortable around him (and Tempest not making much of an effort to fix that), Ash had to be careful not to let the battle-lusted water type drag any of his "teammates" into sparring matches. Although no problematic incidents had taken place since ehe stressful night with Tyrunt, the tension between the rest of the team and their newest member had not shown any signs of dying down. Valiant in particular had the most hostile opinion towards the newcomer, but was thankfully unspoken about it, ensuring that Tyrunt would not be alone whenever anywhere near Tempest at all costs. Tyrunt himself, having still not shaken the violent instincts that Ash was hoping to quell sooner rather than later, seemed to bear a notable grudge on the Krabby as well.
They had seen a fairly decent number of battles with other trainers in the past few days, all of which had ended in victories. Tyrunt and Tempest pulled most of the weight, and overall, the rest of the team didn't have too much of a problem with that. They were collectively proud of Tyrunt for finally being able to join in on the fun, and hoped Tempest's generously provided opportunities to indulge himself would help to quell his violent habits, so that he'd be less likely to try and take them out on everybody else.
Despite his inexperience, Tyrunt's Strong Jaw ability provided him with a strong, situational advantage over certain opponents, and although Ash wasn't sure how likely the hatchling would be to defeat any of his teammates, he had reached a point where battling him likely wouldn't be an effortless affair. In a serious fight, most members of the team would likely have to be wary of his deadly jaws, and his rock/dragon typing had given him a very clear head start in terms of offensive prowess and durability. As an overall package, it was likely that he would definitely be the weakest of the group for at least a little while longer, but his strong points helped to ensure that there would probably be specific circumstances where he wasn't the least viable, depending on who they were facing.
Unfortunately, Ash took notice that the more intense of Tyrunt's battles would still bring out the young hatchling's violent temper, a reminder of the progress that still needed to be made.
And so far, Tempest had yet to see a battle where he was in danger of losing, even if some were more challenging than others. His brute strength and Shell Armor ability had consistently proven themselves to be an amazing combination, and the excitement in his eyes only seemed to grow with every battle. And with a Gym battle just over the horizon, it was only growing faster.
Nevertheless, despite the team being overall accepting of Tyrunt and Tempest currently being in the spotlight, Ash was still sure to give Eevee some time of her own to participate in the battles. Although she had been just as understanding as everybody else, the young rookie had taken note that she was somewhat annoyed by the inconvenience, and therefore made sure to give her some opportunities as well. Over the course of their travels, her usage of Iron Tail had seen incredible improvement, now almost as near-perfect as Pikachu's. Their latest parrying contest, albeit not a serious sparring match, had ended in a satisfying stalemate.
In the end, nothing was perfect, but by the time they had reached Vermilion City, the team's progress had been more than enough to make both themselves and their trainer ecstatic.
/
Vermilion City wasn't quite the sprawling metropolis that Saffron and Celadon were, but was a magnificent sight nonetheless. Built on the shores at the cusp of southeastern Kanto, the city and it's impressively tall structures acted as the Region's trading capital, the famed Vermilion Harbor that gave the city it's reputation seeing extensive activity throughout the year.
Ash had seen overhead perspectives of the grand harbor on the news before, and even when not in person, the sight of all of the ships coming in and out was a sight to behold, especially with how humongous the harbor was. The boy had certainly heard about how beautiful the waters in Vermilion were, whether it be when it was reflecting the bright sunlight or the alluring moonlight. He was interested in seeing it in person, although maybe it could wait until after the Gym battle.
Although not to the extent of Cinnabar Island, the city was a huge vacation spot during the spring and summer. Ash had heard talk of the beaches in the area being the highest rated of Kanto's mainland. The glamorous sights of Vermilion were the perfect compliment to the aquatic nature that the city provided for itself with its seaport status.
The word "vacation" did not apply to the city's infamous reputation among trainers, however. Although those who came to Vermilion seeking out the Gym's Thunder Badge often looked forward to the visual appeal and overall wonderful atmosphere of the city, very few felt the same way towards the trials that stood between them and such a goal.
1. Surge, the electric type specialist running the Gym, was one of the most widely feared Gym Leaders to assume the post. Known for his ruthless "might makes right" ideology towards the profession, he was not the kind of Gym Leader that the team had faced up to this point. He was crude, merciless, and a guarantee that Vermilion's Pokemon Center would seldom be short on business. Based on what Ash knew of the fearsome authority figure (which, admittedly, wasn't everything), his methods extended into every aspect of his job. Not just his relentless opposition to those hoping to acquire his badge, but his brutal crackdown on criminal activity, which, although not identical to Koga's, produced similar results. Even the way he mentored his Gym trainers was something that his fearsome nature directly bled into, with those brave enough to study under him subjected to a harsh curriculum with rigid conditions that honed anyone tough enough to brave the harrowing tutelage to end into borderline hardened soldiers.
Apparently, despite the fear that the Gym promoted, it was actually a very popular choice for those seeking to be a Gym trainer. Ash, Gary, and a handful of classmates had all found the statistics to be contradictory, but according to their teachers, the fear that the masses felt towards LT. Surge had inspired many of the more ambitious of their generation to emulate him, leading to the Gym's surprising popularity as a trainer school. Not quite matching Saffron's, but surprisingly rivaling that of Celadon.
Nevertheless, those with the guts to become Surge's pupils were in for just as many horror stories as those brave enough to challenge him. Ash had read that the academic side of Vermilion Gym was of a similar feel to the kind of boot camp training that soldiers went through in the League. Not too many specifics were given, but it was no wonder that those who studied under the mighty Gym Leader and saw it through to the end were as tough as they were. From what he knew, Surge was borderline worshipped by the students of his Gym, many of whom had adopted his ideology in at least some form.
Ash wasn't entirely sure if he and his team were ready for this Gym, but at this point, it was too late to turn back. They needed to embrace the challenge.
A grinning Pikachu perched firmly on the rookie's shoulder let out a joyful squeal as the duo approached the gate. They had arrived roughly a half hour past noon, meaning that a late lunch would be in store for them once Nurse Joy and her staff were done with the team's check-up. Although the first signs of hunger were beginning to manifest in him, Ash was willing to wait it out long enough to eat together with his team, as tempting as it was to go grab a bite at the cafeteria while Nurse Joy looked them over.
He knew there wasn't necessarily anything wrong with eating while he waited, but given that his team was probably hungry as well, it didn't really feel fair to him. Thankfully, it shouldn't be too long of a wait, since everybody was in good shape at the moment.
Passing through the gates, Ash and Pikachu took in the sights of the city, the moisture from the ocean carried by a comfortable breeze that brushed against their faces.
'Misty would have liked it here.' the boy thought to himself. The thought of his orange-haired friend (or was that rival now?) brought back memories of his time in Cerulean, another city located near the coast.
The sound of rumbling brought his attention to Pikachu, the rookie turning to look at his starter Pokemon, still perched on his shoulder. He offered the mouse a gentle smile while scratching him under the chin (much to Pikachu's pleasure) and reassuring him.
"We'll hurry on over." he said. "Sooner we get to the Center to get you and the others checked out, the sooner we eat."
Pikachu made no objections, and after Ash got out the bicycle, the electric type rode comfortably in the basket as the duo zipped down the sidewalk. It would normally be Tyrunt's spot, but the young hatchling was grown enough to be put in a Poke Ball now, as long as it wasn't too extensive. He was approaching the cusp of no longer being a baby, and once a couple of weeks passed, he would simply be a child.
/
The automatic doors to Vermillion's Pokemon Center opened up, Ash and Pikachu welcoming the luxurious blast of air conditioning that awaited two of them as they stepped inside. Ash's eyes picked out a couple of kids his age (one boy and one girl handing their Poke Balls to Nurse Joy at the front desk at the end of the line. Just as he took his spot behind a teenage boy in the back, the two kids said goodbye to the pink-haired woman before turning around and heading for the doors, talking amongst each other.
"That battle was no fair!" he heard the boy saying as the duo passed by. "I barely had a chance to do anything!"
"And you remember those stupid insults he threw at us?!" the girl responded. "Why is a jerk like him even allowed to be Gym Leader?!"
Ash felt a small drop of sweat forming on his face as he winced at the conversation, which he didn't hear any more of after the automatic doors closed behind the two trainers. It wasn't the best thing for him to overhear mere moments after walking in…
The boy felt a knot in his stomach as the thought of soon heading to Vermilion's Gym flashed through his mind. A nagging part of him in the back of his mind was wishing that he had just gone to Celadon. That he had saved Vermilion for a later date…
But the boy rapidly shook his head. No. it was too late to think about that now. He had made his choice, and the team had agreed to it. They wouldn't go back on that decision.
"Thinking about the Gym Leader?" Ash was pulled from his thoughts as he and Pikachu looked up at the teenaged boy in front of them, who gave them an uneasy smile.
Ash found himself chuckling a bit, but doing so just made him even more nervous. "Y-yeah…" he stuttered. On his shoulder, Pikachu seemed to reflect his trainer's worry.
The older boy nodded, as if confirming a suspicion. "Makes sense. You can draw pretty much the same conclusions whenever you see somebody your age getting fidgety around here." he turned his attention back to the desk ahead. "Hang tight, kid."
Ash couldn't tell if he was being encouraged or teased, so, he opted to remain silent while exchanging nervous glances with his starter.
/
As expected, the team's checkup had not lasted long. Just a little bit after 1:30 PM, Ash had found a table in the cafeteria (which was only moderately crowded) for him and his friends to eat at. While most of his team was seated in a straight line next to one another, chatting on occasion while happily devouring their food, there was one usual exception.
Tempest was a few feet away in his own space, eating in excited silence while paying the rest of the group no mind. It was always like that during mealtime: with Tempest the lone wolf not associated with anyone.
Ash's eyes lingered on the Krabby for a moment. While waiting for the check-up to end, he had called his mother to inform her of their arrival in the city, but had chosen not to bring up the issues that he and the group had run into with their new water type recruit. He had been tempted to, but had opted out of it at the last second. Delia seemed to have picked up on the fact that he wanted to talk to her about something, but he had thankfully gotten her to drop the subject, although given her tone, he wasn't overly sure if he had convinced her that everything was alright.
Inwardly shaking his head, Ash reminded himself that no further incidents had taken place as of yet. That was enough for him to be satisfied for now. And with the Gym battle looming just overhead, Tempest would have plenty to indulge himself with.
Once it seemed like everybody was close to being done (Ash's spaghetti three quarters of the way eaten), the boy spoke up and got everybody's attention, prompting the team to lift their heads expectantly to their trainer.
"Once we've given our food some time to settle in, we'll be doing some light, last-minute training…" he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to give himself time before continuing. "And then we'll be challenging the Gym tomorrow."
Tempest's reaction immediately overtook everybody's attention, the River Crab Pokemon triumphantly letting out a loud grunt, extending a pincer upwards towards the ceiling as if to say "Let's brawl!"
The team shot him uneasy looks for a moment while Ash silently chuckled at the display, even if the brief amusement didn't quell his nervousness. There was no secret to anyone among the group that Tempest was the one who had been looking forward to this battle the most. While everybody else (including Ash) were here out of necessity, Tempest would have been just as eager to take part even if there hadn't been a badge at stake: His main motivation was simply the fact that Surge was one of the powerful Gym Leaders that Ash had told him about. Of course, the fact that Ash had also informed him of the Conference likely meant that he was interested in the badge too, but there was no overarching goal in mind for the crab-like water type: Just battle.
Observing the reactions from the rest of the group, Ash could see the nervous features clear as day on everybody's faces. None were afraid, but everybody knew exactly what kind of battle this would be. Despite everything, however, an obvious hint of anticipation also adorned Pikachu and Tyrunt's features. Seeing Tyrunt's expression triggered a feeling of conflict within Ash.
Should he consider using the hatchling in a fight against Surge of all Gym Leaders? It was no secret that the team's youngest member had come a long way since they had first gotten started back at Bill's place in Cerulean, but he still hadn't caught up to everybody else yet. That didn't necessarily make it a bad idea, given that Tyrunt's powerful jaw and natural resistance to electricity would both give him an edge over certain other teammates in this situation, but would that alone be enough?
...At the same time, he also had two Pokemon that were naturally vulnerable to electricity, and while Tempest's amazing defenses gave him a cushion in that department, Nebula ahd no such thing. The Staravia had played a beautiful game against Daisy all the way back at Cerulean, but for everything that she had over Tyrunt, who knows what damage Surge could do to her if she took a direct hit from one of his strongest attacks? Between her and Tyrunt, no matter which option Ash considered, it was risk vs reward.
"Are you okay?"
Ash started as Valiant's voice entered his mind, the boy suddenly realizing that he had been spacing out in his thoughts.
Sending an apologetic look to his team, Ash continued. "Sorry about that. Just have a lot on my mind. There's a ton to consider now with a team of six." his face formed into a frown. "I don't know how many of you I'll be allowed to choose, but based on our last Gym battle back at Cerulean, I'm assuming at least four of you will be involved." he took a moment for that to sink in, as the six Pokemon began to exchange glances amongst each other. "Either way, this is going to be our toughest battle yet, so we have to rest up as well as possible tonight. I don't even know if we're going to win…" he trailed off as he finished.
He didn't like the idea of going into battle with that kind of mindset. It was almost like admitting defeat. Or, at best, lowering expectations to avoid disappointment. Was that what Masters do?
...They had come here knowing the risks, right? Trying to take the leap… what was the point of doing that with a borderline defeatist outlook?
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Giving his team another overlook, he could tell that Tempest was definitely planning to win, even if the Krabby was mostly just excited for the battle in general. The thought of overcoming a strong enemy was the one thing that excited their newest team member more than the concept of simply fighting a formidable opponent. There wasn't a hint of anxiety to be found in the River Crab's features. Just excitement and borderline bloodlust.
Valiant gulped for a moment, but then offered his trainer a nod. A small drop of sweat rolled down his face, but he was still doing his best to steel his expression, even if he hadn't done so completely. Pikachu and Tyrunt were as excited as they were anxious. Both of them loved battling, even if it wasn't for the same reasons as Tempest.
Eevee and Nebula were the most uneasy of the group, but still straightened their posture and offered their trainer affirmative looks. Both offered grateful smiles as Pikachu and Valiant respectively seemed to offer brief words of encouragement.
Most of the team seemed to feel the same way that Ash did. He was worried about what they might face once tomorrow arrived, but at the same time…
...At the end of the day, they had come here to test themselves, right? They could've easily gone to Celadon first, but they opted to take the more challenging option.
Tomorrow, they would all be taking the leap… right into a massive thundercloud.
/
Ash tried to sleep early that night, but despite the way he wanted to feel, the emotions that he couldn't help but feel refused to stop getting in the way. He was pretty sure that he dozed off about two hours or so later than he had intended too, after tossing and turning too many times to properly keep track of. The thoughts running through his mind distracted him from how comfortable his bed was, and just as much from the taste of his dinner that night.
Ash had tried to keep the stress of the upcoming trial out of his head for just a little bit the following morning, purposefully picking out the sweetest tasting breakfast items that the Center had available, but no amount of sugar could dismiss the dread plaguing his mind. And it wasn't helped from the comments that he kept hearing from the occasional passerby, seemingly all of them having something to do with Surge and how strong he was.
"My starter was fried like a corpse at the end of that fight! She hasn't lost a battle in the past two weeks!"
"He used some kind of horse Pokemon against me. The thing wouldn't stop moving, it was too fast!"
"That jerk told me I was worthless as a trainer! He said I shouldn't even be showing my face or lifting a Poke Ball!"
"His students are so stuck up! They just spent the whole battle hiding behind their big bad leader.
"Couldn't he have gone easier on us…"
The more Ash heard, the more he doubted his choice to come here. Was shaking off the unease really the right thing to do? He felt like he was ignoring a warning…
But was running away without trying any better?
'Ugh, why is my mind so jumbled?!' he couldn't take it anymore. He had to find a way to clear his head, and then get to the Gym as fast as he could. Before it stopped being clear.
Pikachu was the only member of the team out of their Poke Ball when they left the Center to make their way to the Gym. The mouse's presence on his shoulder gave Ash a soothing, but for whatever reason, the anxiety wouldn't go away even when in the midst of that sense of comfort.
It was overarching. A feeling of dread that always hung over him, no matter what emotions he was feeling in the current moment.
About halfway to the Gym, Ash gave up and sat down on a nearby bench, letting out a loud sigh as his gaze absentmindedly turned skyward.
Pikachu instinctively left Ash's shoulder, instead perching next to his trainer as he curiously looked up at the boy. The electric type's face was adorned by an innocently concerned expression as Ash glanced down at him with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry…" he gently scratched underneath the mouse's chin, eliciting a hum from his starter as the rodent's lips curved up into a smile. "We'll get going soon, I just need to think."
The two of them sat beside each other in silence as the action taking place on the street passed by. Passersby walking to what could have been any number of places in the city, vehicles driving along the road with a slight windforce pushing against the duo as they passed, the occasional bird Pokemon flying overhead.
The activity of civilization wasn't as peaceful as the wilderness typically was, but it was usually more secure. Knowing that they were within the city limits, back in human society, rather than the uncertainty of the habitats beyond. Ash knew it wasn't a universal opinion among the trainer community, many of whom preferred the roads outside of the city, and found the forests and other areas to be more serene and comforting. He could understand the point of view, but he never tired of taking a break from all of that.
Without any real aim, his eyes found themselves fixated on the roof of one of the tall buildings towering overhead, trying to absorb the atmosphere while making an attempt to focus his thoughts on the Gym in a more controlled manner.
If he walked into that place a nervous wreck, he'd likely freeze up in the middle of the match. He had nearly done so against Brock, back when he and the team had made their first ever attempt at a Gym.
Ash closed his eyes for a few moments, trying to collect his mind while breathing steadily.
It was still a Gym battle. They've done this twice before, and they were both among the highlights of their journey so far. This wouldn't be any different. If Surge was too much for them, they'd either train for a rematch, or depart for Celadon and come back when they were ready.
And if they succeeded, they would walk out of those doors with their third Gym badge.
It all sounded so simple on paper. Was it really a big deal if they lost? The Season was still less than two months in. Shouldn't they just focus on trying to win without worrying too much about the possibility of losing? Given their fast progress up until now, they had earned that cushion, hadn't they?
That's what Ash was telling himself. But something else inside of him was saying something different. No matter how much he reminded himself, that anxious gnawing in his mind wouldn't leave. At best he was just able to force it into the back of his mind, but never banish it entirely.
The feeling of being nervous seldom followed the perceived rules that existed on paper. It never worked the way that it ideally should, and that's why it was so hard to get rid of. Ash wondered if he should just accept that, and focus on keeping that unease in the back of his mind, away from the forefront. If it was the best that he could do, then it would get him nowhere to try and go any further. He'd just be constantly reminding himself of the annoying feeling that he was trying to get rid of.
'We have plenty of chances.' he thought to himself. 'Worst case scenario, today is a test for us.'
A lot of fellow rookies have been talking about their experiences with Surge, even if Ash had only been able to overhear bits and pieces of them. But he couldn't just focus on how nervous those stories made him feel. He already knew that they were in for a brutal battle, and so did his team. They needed to look beyond that, and fight this battle for themselves.
Looking over to Pikachu, Ash couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were running through his starter's mind. Prior to leaving, he had already asked his team how they were feeling, and for the most part, it seemed like they were ready to go, but while Pikachu was still out, he might as well…
"You're ready for this, right Pikachu?" His tone wasn't encouraging, nor unsure. He was just looking for confirmation.
Light sparks came from Pikachu's cheeks as he nodded. His smile wasn't overly cheerful, but it was genuine. Perhaps he had taken the time to try and think things over himself.
Ash just smiled back at his starter, reaching out to rub the top of the mouse's head.
/
The Gym was probably the largest of the three they had come across so far, at least based on the exterior. A combination of silver and orange adorned the massive building's outer appearance, a massive lightning bolt painted in the upper-middle area, stopping at the large Poke Ball logo that signaled that this building was a Gym.
With Pikachu back on his trainer's shoulder, he and Ash took the time to gaze upwards at the building's symbols. As expected, every Gym gave off a fairly overwhelming presence, although Ash wondered if that was just because of the status of the building. After all, the Cerulean Gym, if not for the fact that it was also where trainers tried to earn the Cascade Badge, would've just been a place for entertainment, where Misty's sisters performed their shows in front of fans.
This Gym had no such double-purpose, however. It was solely a Gym, where the students studied, and the man running the show struck fear in the hearts of the opposition.
But Ash only kept that in the back of his mind as he made his way through the automatic doors.
The lobby was huge, the walls a metallic shade of silver, and a few doors on each side likely leading to different areas. The floor consisted of seemingly golden tiles, a few couches in the middle of the room surrounding a large coffee table. A few cushioned chairs were in different areas of the room as well, and Ash could see a few kids seemingly about two to three years older than him (Gym trainers, he presumed), seated near a large flatscreen that displayed some kind of sports show that he wasn't overly familiar with.
Ash couldn't help but pause as he entered the massive room, and Pikachu seemed to have similar ideas, letting out an awed noise from his throat as the electric mouse's head turned in each direction to take in the sight. Ash hadn't expected the lobby to be this much bigger than what they were used to, although perhaps that was foolish of him in retrospect.
Ash and Pikachu could feel a few eyes finding their way to them as the young rookie slowly walked through the lobby, gradually looking around to absorb his surroundings before arriving at the front desk.
A teenage boy with a fairly muscular frame and a set of headphones on his neck sat at a desktop, fingers near the keyboard as he glanced up from whatever he was doing to see Ash's arrival. His eyes formed into a minor scowl as he addressed the younger boy with a curt nod.
"Challenger?" he asked simply. His tone of voice was rather rough, dismissive, even.
Trying to ignore the less than welcoming greeting, Ash nodded back at him. "Yes, I am."
Fingers having their way with the keyboard, the teenager responded. "Pokedex." fairly familiar with this routine by now, Ash handed the crimson device to the older boy, who took hold of it in a firm grip before inserting it into the nearby slot. As Ash's information showed up on the computer, he continued typing while addressing the boy. "Let's see… your name is Ash Ketchum, you started in Pallet Town, and have two badges at the moment…" This was definitely routine for him.
"Yes." Ash nodded.
Nodding back, the boy responded with a simple "Got it." not quite losing his dismissive tone. Quickly putting on the headphones, he pressed the intercom button. "Hey boss, another victim for the emergency room."
Ash couldn't stop himself from flinching at that. The older boy's delivery had been so… definitive. As though his manner of speaking was just going through the motions. Still on his shoulder, Pikachu was having a similar reaction, although the duo returned to their normal expressions as quickly as they could.
'Back of your mind, Ash.' the rookie reminded himself. 'No more than that.'
The teenager nodded along with whatever he was being told for a few moments, before simply saying "Yes, sir." before promptly removing his headphones and looking back up at Ash and Pikachu. "Alright, you're registered. You'll be escorted in a few minutes."
After taking his Pokedex back, Ash moved away from the counter, sparing a glance a the nearby door that would likely take him to the battlefield.
"Alright, I'll have to return you for now." Ash prodded his starter's side to get his attention. "Next time you come out, it'll be in the battle."
Pikachu seemed a bit disappointed, but nonetheless nodded, leaping off of Ash's shoulder and onto a nearby cushioned chair so that his trainer could return him more easily.
As Pikachu disappeared into the Poke Ball, a mild emptiness overtook Ash. He was okay with being alone, but it wasn't fun during times like this. Not just this particular Gym, but any Gym. At least he and Pikachu could share in the pressure of the upcoming high-stakes battle.
Nevertheless, brushing his hand against the Poke Balls on his belt still made him feel more secure.
Ash took a seat on the cushioned chair to await the upcoming match, only for the door to seemingly open mere moments after he had sat down.
The tall girl who made her way into the room had magenta hair that fell just beneath her shoulders, and sharp blue eyes that held an intense, almost battle-hardened gaze. Her frame was muscular and lean, and she looked like she was probably four years older than Ash. Maybe even five.
"Ketchum?" her professional tone addressed the boy as she spotted him sitting on the chair.
"Yes." he said hurriedly before standing up. Making his way to the girl, he realized that she was at least a head taller than him, having to incline his head upwards to lock gazes with her as she looked down at him with crossed arms.
The difference in height, coupled with her fierce expression, made Ash feel quite small and defenseless.
The older girl looked him over with a sense of analytical scrutiny that added to the discomfort. She was silent for a few moments before speaking up again.
"Hmph. Yet another challenger who looks fresh out of their training pants." her lips mildly curved upward, but only barely. "What makes you so different from everyone else who's come in this week?"
Ash's gaze sharpened as he dared to respond.
"Take that back." he did his best to growl.
The girl brought a hand up to her chin, knuckles just barely brushing the bottom. "Heh, take what back? Around here the name of the game is to stick to your assertions until proven wrong. I'd keep that in mind if your plan is to survive."
Ash felt the bead of sweat forming on his cheek, but didn't wipe it off as she gestured to the door. Maybe if he didn't bring attention to it she wouldn't notice.
"The battlefield is through here." she announced. "Walk fast enough to keep up."
She said nothing more as she opened the door back up and made her way through. Ash hurriedly followed her into the hallway laid out ahead, suddenly feeling the need to slip into a speed walk moments later as he took note of her pace. Not even the walk to the battlefield was casual.
The hallway that the door took them through was a straightforward corridor, dimly lit with walls a slightly dark shade of blue. Even with the faster-than-normal pace that Ash and the girl were walking at, it seemed to go on forever.
Finally, she stopped in front of the door at the end of the path. With her hand clenching the doorknob, she turned to face the young rookie as he stopped in front of her.
"Here's your stop, kid." Before Ash could move, she pulled the door open while reaching her other arm behind him,roughly shoving him forward. The boy nearly lost his footing as he stumbled into the humongous room.
Unlike the previous two Gyms, this battlefield didn't seem to have a theme. No rocky terrain, no massive pool. Just a long, wide stretch of hard floors, a dark tan in color. Like most arenas, a giant Poke Ball logo was located in the middle.
Also catching Ash's eye was the massive set of bleachers on either side of the room, towering above and overlooking the battlefield. On each side, he could see a decent number of Gym trainers, varying in age, seated on the bleachers. Many of them immediately locked their gazes onto him, as if targeting him, but just as many seemed to be chatting amongst themselves.
Ash could hear the teenaged girl who brought him here approaching him from behind, but his attention was immediately directed to the sudden voice that spoke out.
"So then, you're my new prey."
Ash's gaze immediately shifted to the figure approaching him, and his blood suddenly froze.
The man's height dwarfed the boy, who suddenly found himself staring at a humanoid mountain made up of endless muscle. He wore a green outfit that resembled a military uniform, and his dark blonde hair stood up in spikes as his eyes stared down at the beginner with an almost predatory expression, like a Pidgeot scanning the forest and fields for their next meal. Or even snack.
Ash tried to lock eyes with the man, but found his brain practically shutting down as the Gym Leader's gaze pierced cleanly through his own like a laser.
1. Surge. Leader of the Vermilion Gym, and worst fear to Indigo trainers everywhere.
The Gym Leader was flanked by two other trainers, one boy and one girl, both of whom seemed to be sizing Ash up with venomous gazes of their own. All of a sudden, the boy could feel what felt like dozens of eyes zeroing in on him from countless directions, as more and more of the trainers sitting on the bleachers noticed his arrival.
And none of them felt welcoming.
Feeling his throat lock up, Ash felt the magenta-haired girl who brought him here place a rough hand on his shoulder. The contact did not feel like it was of comforting intent, and he almost winced as her fingers tightly clenched around him.
"I've brought the challenger, sir." Her voice was professional, routine, and with the tone of somebody bringing a prisoner to their execution.
Surge nodded affirmatively. "Yes, good." he brought a massive arm upwards, pointing a thumb over his gigantic shoulder. "Go join your classmates on the bleachers. We're going to get started soon." His voice had to have been the most authoritative that Ash had heard so far, with a deep and booming tone, even when he wasn't raising the volume.
Ash's shoulder was given immediate relief as she lifted her arm up to salute, before walking past them and to the seats. The boy's posture stiffened as Surge's attention became focused solely on him, as the rookie did the best to meet the fierce Gym Leader's eyes. He felt his face evening out as their gazes locked again.
'Back of your mind.' Ash thought to himself again.
Surge crossed his arms in front of his chest as he stared the rookie down.
"So… you're the latest hotshot who wandered in here for a bloodbath." he stated blatantly, his sentence presented as a fact.
Ash felt another cold sensation rushing through his blood, but thankfully stopped himself from wincing as he responded.
"I've come to earn your badge in a battle." he did his best to frame his own sentence as a fact, too.
Surge wasn't fazed, however, his lips curving upwards into a cruelly accusatory smirk.
"Your eyes have about as much uncertainty as an infant Growlithe stumbling into a Dragonite's nesting grounds." he voiced crudely. "About how many first-timers do you think we've got saying a sentence like that?"
Ash grimaced at that, doing his best to glare at the massive man. He could feel his heart hammering as the electric specialist leered down at him.
"No matter what you say, I'm here to challenge you."
Surge's chuckle bordered on sinister as he considered Ash's words. "Very well then. We'll see if you live long enough to regret it." paying the boy no further mind, he turned around to address the students on the bleachers, as the two trainers behind him walked off to find seats and spectate the battle. "Listen up, glorified chumps!" His raised voice was as though a clap of thunder had emanated from his vocal cords, all eyes in the room immediately locking onto his figure the moment his voice was heard. "A new challenger has graced this Gym to be flattened by the intensity of a true contest of prowess!"
The applause that erupted from the onlooking students wasn't one of cheer. It was more like a battlecry. Ash finally took note of just how many students were in the room, with both sets of bleachers probably ranging from a quarter to half full each.
It was fairly common practice for Gym Leaders who took in students to have their Gym trainers act as an audience for their battles, but it was rare for literally every student to be present at once. Was this nearly everyone who studied under Surge's Gym? Or was the academic side of this place really that big?
As Surge walked off to the other side of the arena without a word, Ash made his way to his own position. The feeling of all of the students staring him down permeated through the air he breathed. It was like a miniature stadium.
He felt his breath lock up again, but immediately shook it off as his attention was brought back to Surge, who was closing in on his own spot at the other side.
A teenage girl with long, brown hair stood at the referee post in front of one of the bleacher sets. Her arms were crossed with confidence as her voice boomed across the room.
It wasn't nearly as overwhelming as Surge's stormy tone, but it nonetheless carried an authoritative aura that felt as though she had rehearsed for half her life.
"The Gym battle between our Leader, LT. Surge, and our challenger, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, will now commence!" Ash compulsively ran his hands across the Poke Balls on his belt as she continued. "The battle will be five-on-five, with each side permitted to substitute at their leisure. The match will be decided when all Pokemon on either team have been eliminated, or if the challenger surrenders." She raised the arm that was closest to Ash's direction. "The challenger will now select which Pokemon he will use!"
A small monitor lowered from the ceiling until it was in front of Ash's face. Familiar with this routine, the boy saw all six of his teammates on the touchscreen.
Select five Pokemon
A sense of realization overtook Ash as he realized this would be the first time he entered a Gym battle without being able to use all his teammates. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, attempting to tune out the series of chatter echoing across the room.
If it was this noticeable in the Gym, with only two sets of bleachers that weren't even full, only extended high enough to almost approach the ceiling, just how intense was it in the legendarily enormous Indigo Stadium, where thousands of spectators towered over the arena and the contestants from every single direction?
Opening his eyes, he zeroed in on the screen, raising his fingers to begin his selection.
Without much thinking, he quickly tapped the pictures of Pikachu and Valiant, and proceeded to tap the picture of Tempest not too long after.
Pikachu would be fighting fire with fire, being an electric type Pokemon in an electric based Gym. It certainly didn't give Ash an advantage, but his starter was a fairly safe pick. The same could be said for Valiant, who had no vulnerability to electricity, and who's versatility and quick thinking would be as useful as Pikachu's swift movement.
As for Tempest, he wanted this for himself. Against a Gym Leader of Surge's caliber (or literally any other Gym leader, for that matter), he was right in his element, and despite his water typing, Ash took solace in knowing that the Shell Armor ability would provide him with a cushion to combat his natural weakness to electricity. Not to mention, his brute strength, relentless tenacity, and ground type Mud Shot move would all prove useful.
Now with just a couple more picks remaining, Ash's focus shifted to the remaining three members of his team: Nebula, Eevee, and Tyrunt.
Of the three, Nebula was indisputably the most capable, yet she was arguably the least suitable team member to be used in this particular battle. Her flight, impressive strength, commendable speed, and incredibly menacing Reckless ability had long since cemented her as an incredibly performing member of the group. Back in Cerulean, Daisy had learned the hard way just how amazing Ash's feathered friend truly was.
But she was also the most susceptible to electricity out of everyone on her team. There was no Shell Armor ability to bolster her exterior. And at the moment, she hadn't been trained to cope with such a weakness, as they were still in the process of honing her abilities.
Next, there was Eevee. She didn't share the same weakness that Nebula had, but at the moment, she also wasn't at the bird's level yet.
Nevertheless she had been improving in strides as of late. She no longer lagged behind the team as significantly as she used to. At this point, she was probably at a good enough level to be a safer option.
Ash tapped Eevee's picture.
Now only one pick remained. Ash's gaze shifted between Nebula and Tyrunt.
He shouldn't pick Tyrunt. He was the least experienced member of the team, and overall hadn't yet reached everyone else's level.
And yet… that was only speaking in a general sense. It didn't take the specific circumstances into account. He had a natural resistance to electricity, and was the only member of the team who did. But it wasn't like Surge was going to be using nothing but electric type moves for the whole entire match… and yet he would probably still prioritize them if Ash chose Nebula. No doubt he had at least a few moves that would be useful against Tyrunt, but would he have as many as the plethora of lightning-based techniques that Nebula would be flying for her life to avoid?
Not to mention, his Strong Jaw ability gave him a level of lethality that the others wouldn't be able to easily match. Coupled with a move like Poison Fang or Fire Fang, it would be especially devastating for whatever Pokemon on Surge's team that the hatchling could sink his teeth into. Even if he hadn't mastered either move, he was good enough at them for his usage of both moves to be dangerous.
But despite that, Nebula was still the faster of the two by a large margin. She could close the distance and avoid attacks with far greater ease.
And yet, despite Nebula's superior strength, Ash wouldn't be surprised if it was safer for Tyrunt to close the distance, and perhaps less punishing for the dinosaur to get hit, given that the amount of electric based moves that that Surge had prepared for Nebula was likely greater than whatever he had to counter Tyrunt. They hadn't yet reached the point where type matchups noticeably decreased in relevance.
Tyrunt was still a hatchling… but it wouldn't be too much longer before he wasn't anymore. And although Nebula had greater offensive prowess overall, especially because of Reckless, and her usage of wind would certainly come in handy, his jaw-based attacks could give them an edge in especially decisive moments.
But… Did that override Nebula's own advantages?
He… had to choose one…
His finger lingered over the touchscreen as he gazed at the two pictures. It almost felt like an eternity.
Ash could almost feel the stress piling up just from this. He just had to make a choice…
Abruptly, his finger pressed against Tyrunt's picture, and before he had any time to second-guess, or even approve of the choice he had made, the selection was confirmed, and the monitor rose back up to the ceiling.
Ash… wasn't sure if he had made the right choice, but neither Surge nor the referee gave him any time to think it over.
The moment the monitor began to rise back up, the girl raised both of her arms high into the air. "Gym Leader and challenger alike, release your first Pokemon!"
Ash felt the weight of a Snorlax on his shoulders as his fingers traced across the Poke Balls on his belt. A few seconds later, he gripped Eevee's Poke Ball, and released the Evolution Pokemon onto the arena.
His quadruped friend stepped out of the bright flash of light that had emanated front he action, immediately looking around to take in her surroundings. A small drop of sweat rolled down her face before she angled her head towards Ash.
"We're in the Gym." he nodded at her, his voice steady. "You're the first one up."
Nodding in understanding, Eevee faced herself forward, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, before focusing her gaze at the massive man on the other end of the arena. She seemed to be somewhat distressed by Surge's appearance, but that sense of unease manifested into a light glare, rather than a pale face of fear.
She was ready.
Surge's hands were big enough for his Poke Ball to rest on top of his palm for a moment before closing it up and raising his voice to address his audience.
"Everyone!" the arm holding the Poke Ball raised above his head, his thunderous voice refusing to not be heard. "Allow me to remind you of the routine regarding what becomes of challengers in this Gym!"
Eevee almost flinched at the Gym leader's volume, but quickly shook it off as he raised a finger.
"First, whenever an amateur too small for Vermilion's world aimlessly wanders onto our turf, we give them the proper greeting with a quick showcase of our strength!" another finger raised. "Second, the trainer will respond to our display with their own example of what they mistakenly believe to be prowess!" Ash's face tightened into a light glare as a third finger was raised. "Third, their options will be exhausted when their attempts prove fruitless, leaving our side to correct them!" his fingers closed into a fist. "Finally, the battle will continue until the opposition is either smashed to pieces, burnt down to ashes, crushed into road-kill, blown to smithereens, or realizes their helplessness and yields! For that is the punishment that awaits all who dares to set foot in Vermilion Gym!"
Another series of battle cries sounded off from the audience, the passion in their tones rivaling and even matching that of the Gym Leader himself.
'They've already written this match's result in their minds…' Ash gritted his teeth at the thought. Surge had announced his victory before even revealing his first teammate. 'But we're not going to let it be that simple!'
Holding his clenched fists out in front of him, Ash saw that Eevee shared in his convictions, as the Evolution Pokemon looked back at her trainer with a determined gaze accompanied by a quick nod.
They've come this far by rising above all of the expectations going against them. They wouldn't let Surge be the one to write their history.
Surge reared his arm back as he prepared to chuck his Poke Ball. "Now Raichu, let the bloodbath commence!"
A bright flash of white light revealed a large, orange mouse propped up into the air by the long tail it was sitting on. With the lightning bolt at the end of the tail firmly pressed against the floor, the electric rodent rose a decent bit above the arena, eyes immediately locking onto Eevee. Ash's eyes widened for a split second as he took in the new arrival.
Raichu… Pikachu's evolved form, and an electric type known for its awesome agility and electrical output. Although they were not the kind of species that inherently promoted fear among the trainer community in the same vein as an Electivire, they were among Indigo's most potent in terms of fighting styles that prioritized on-foot mobility, and had the power to be deadly despite not being among the list of unrivaled powerhouses like a Dragonite or a Gyarados.
One thing in particular that made them positively regarded among electric type enthusiasts, however, was their excellent control over their powers, a far cry from how they started out as a Pichu. With how popular that their pre-evolved forms were as pets, Raichu's relative popularity in the professional training community sometimes felt overshadowed, even if prominent trainers had used them to a decent extent.
This Raichu was beyond battle-ready, cheeks erupting with sparks before immediately dropping down onto all fours. Its eyes were hardened and full of intent as Eevee returned its even glare.
"Alright girl," Surge addressed the Raichu, who was apparently female. "You have your prey." the large rodent simply nodded, a small smile curving across her lips as she let out a light grunt. Her cheeks still hadn't yet stopped sparking.
The referee raised both arms high into the air before bringing them down. "And… BEGIN!"